Santa Barbara, CA (October 15, 2007)—Fielding Graduate University's Institute for Social Innovation received a grant from the Garfield Foundation to do an organizational analysis for RE-AMP, a seven-state network of nonprofits and foundations in the upper Midwest, it was announced today by Charles McClintock, PhD, dean of the School of Human & Organization Development.

A research team comprised of Fielding doctoral candidates will help the RE-AMP network achieve the following goals:

• Provide leadership in the Midwest to reduce global warming pollutants by 80% by 2030
• Change the way philanthropy engages in long-term social change initiatives
• Apply a systems approach to analyze and accelerate progress on a complex social issue

The project will be conducted in three phases over the next year. Ruth Rominger, a member of the research team and independent consultant, said "RE-AMP chose Fielding students because of their work in systems theory and social change. Fielding is well-known for its unique intellectual location at the intersection of the social science fields of human and organizational development."

The Garfield Foundation is a founding member of RE-AMP and supports the holistic solutions in two key areas: environmental sustainability and community revitalization. The foundation funds organizations that address system-level solutions, innovative alternatives, and collaboration strategies.

The Institute for Social Innovation (ISI) builds social capital by strengthening the capacity of individuals and organizations to address societal issues. Housed within Fielding's School of Human & Organization Development, ISI supports projects that embody three principles:

1. Collaboration among foundations, government agencies, businesses, and non-governmental organizations
2. Individual and institutional development through participatory change
3. Knowledge creation that blends multidisciplinary theory and professional practice.
   

ISI is organized into three program areas: Frontiers in Research, Leadership for Change, and Organizational Development. "The institute has a track record of support for innovative approaches that produce systemic change in individuals, organizations, and communities," said Katrina Rogers, PhD, ISI director. "By supporting committed and talented people who are doing creative work, we are helping to build the innovative future we seek." For more information on the institute, please contact krogers@fielding.edu.

Fielding Graduate University is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, where it was founded in 1974. It is a world-recognized leader in graduate education, having created one of the first and most successful distributed learning models for mid-career adults. Fielding is an accredited, nonprofit graduate university offering programs within three schools: Psychology, Human & Organization Development, and Educational Leadership & Change. The Fielding community is dedicated to lifelong learning; social justice and change; and innovation in organizations, communities, and society. For more information, visit www.fielding.edu.